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Why I think being “organic” is stupid?

13

Posted by GregQualls | Posted in Church, Life, Religion/Spirituality | Posted on 28-04-2008

For those of you that know me, I’m a pretty cynical guy. I try my best to not be that way on this blog, but I decided that I had speak out about this one.

For awhile now I’ve noticed the concept of being “organic” has been creeping into the church. It’s become a buzz word. Whole ministries and churches are changing everything they do to be more “organic.” I even have a book on my shelf called Organic Church. But I’m coming out and saying publicly that I think being organic is stupid. I know I’m probably going to get some flack for this, but I don’t care. It’s just stupid. Let me tell you why.

Yesterday I was at a church meeting for the leaders of the small groups in our church (we call them Neighborhoods…it sound edgy and vague :) ). For some reason, the word organic kept coming up.

We wanted our groups to form “organically.” We wanted to be “organic” yet intentional. It was like everyone was getting payed $5 every time they used the word organic. I was expecting someone to start marketing an Organic Pyramid Scheme at any moment.

Now I like the concept that they were trying to get across. That we shouldn’t be forcing relationship to happen in our church, but we also shouldn’t be sitting on our butts just hoping that relationships will happen.

My problem is with the fact that we were attributing so much power to “organic.” Who the hell is organic and when did he/she/it start leading the church?! The last time I check that was Jesus’ job.

We aren’t lead by some impersonal force:

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. – Jeremiah 29:11

Life, relationships, and groups don’t come about by some impersonal force:

In him we live and move and have our being – Acts 17:28

So I’ll say it again, attributing anything to this impersonal force called “organic” is just stupid. So if you are a church leader, please stop referring to organic as the leader of anything. Give glory where glory is due and trust in the true leader of the church. His name is Jesus and He’s a much better leader than organic.

  • Brian McDaniel

    I agree completely, I told Fred yesterday that everytime someone says organic I think of weed. It’s an oxmorone to say intentionally organic. I think the word organic at church is silly as well :)

  • http://housechurch.org/blog Z Anderson

    I hear you, man. Seems to imply that other Christians are lifeless or inorganic.

  • Ortega

    I’m not sure organic is stupid. People have put some serious thought into the subject; however, just as with any movement or new observation, people always take it much too far. We start making shirts and printing books into second and third editions. It’s like the purpose driven stuff, or dare I mention the old prayer of Jabez! While they offer wisdom, we become groupies and throw jargon around like it’s going out of style.

    And it reminds me of weed too.

  • http://gregqualls.com GregQualls

    I should clarify a little…I don’t think the concepts behind being organic are necessarily stupid. I think attributing things to being organic is a stupid act. I would put attributing things to being organic as attributing them to luck or chance. It takes the glory away from where it is due…God. I’m saying we need to be Jesus lead; Holy Spirit driven churches and forget about some vague force called “organic.”

    And it reminds me of weed too.

  • http://www.scottgaglardi.com Scott Gaglardi

    I agree with you that the term ‘organic’ is stupid but when I hear it I don’t think of weed, I think of lazy (something weed turns you into). Whenever I hear someone using the term ‘organic’ all I can hear is that they don’t want to step up and take responsibility or put any effort into making something happen. God is the only One who produces life, but we have a responsibility to do our part, which isn’t just sitting around waiting for something to happen.

  • Dwayne Forehand

    When I say that I am more interested in community happening organically what I mean is “I wish the Pastor didn’t have to talk to everyone like they were babes in Christ (when most of them have been saved for longer then I’ve lived), explaining how we need each other and there’s these ‘one another’ passages and how there is this new small group initiative that he’d like everyone to give a shot.”

    Now wishing that he didn’t have to do that and accepting the fact that he does have to do it are not mutually exclusive. And here is the kicked while the people should have already been driven to community due to the Holy Spirits work in them (what I call organically) they do often need the elders to correct and guide them where they are resisting the Spirit (not ‘organic’ in the first sense, but STILL Holy Spirit driven!)

    I am not sure if that makes sense, but organic in the church to me means people doing what they are supposed to do without hand holding because they are mature in Christ.

  • http://gregqualls.com GregQualls

    That’s were my problem is Dwayne. To use an old term, let’s call a spade a spade. Instead of saying organic, say Holy Spirit lead.

  • Dwayne Forehand

    Say it if you mean it. Some don’t . . .

  • Sandra

    “Organic” like “missional” (another very hot and possibly overused church buzz-word) is just a term used by we poor, limited, humans to try to convey certain systems of thinking, behavior or structure to one another. Thank the Lord He gave us language with which to communicate – and patiently uses it with us Himself!

    According to Merriam-Webster, one of the meanings of the “o” word is: 4a)forming an integral element of a whole; b) having systematic coordination of parts; c)having the characteristics of an organism. (Which, by the way, in no way implies “luck” or “chance” unless one subscribes to evolutionary theory.)

    That’s the way I perceive church-life, from individuals to “neighborhoods” to each body of believers within the universal Body of Christ, His current manifestation here on earth. So, I’ll keep using the word organic, because it’s such a great descriptor of how we – through the Holy Spirit, infused in us by the work of our Lord Jesus Christ, who leads our church for His Glory – are supposed to look to the world.

  • http://www.nikao.ws Vince

    I have similar feelings toward the word ‘leadership’

    i know it sounds weird, but i am so tired of that word.

  • Brian

    Sandra and others. Sorry for saying organic is silly, that was rash. I think using organic to describe the work of the Holy-Spirit in our church is fine. Many of us in the “know” understand what organic means but I wonder about others at COAH. We should be careful using the word organic or for that matter any language we use to describe the work of the Holy-Spirit. If we don’t qualify organic it could be really confusing – such as weed, or tofu, who knows.

    Brian

  • http://bklatenight.wordpress.com Brandon Kirk

    I propose we use “organically developed, Holy Spirit goaded” relationships. That way its too long and uses the root word “Goad” so it will unlikely become a buzz word. Our neighborhoods should have organically developed, Holy Spirit goaded relationships and without these organically developed, Holy Spirit goaded relationships, we cannot fully live out the cause of Christ.

    Perhaps I’m the cynical one, and perhaps i said that for a cheap laugh…but none the less, organic reminds me of pizza and i don’t mind pizza in my church.

  • The-gathering

    The trouble with the word organic is that most people misunderstand the contextual essence of how the word is to be used. Kind of like the word, “Church”. Organic, used in context means, “a gathering together of believers initiated, orchestrated and facilitated by the leading of the Holy Spirit.